The scent of a waterfall holds an antidepressant secret
Air Ionization
There’s something special about the air around a waterfall, at the beach, or in a forest after it rains. These places are rich in negative air ions, formed when oxygen molecules break apart as water hits rocks or sunlight. Air ionizers are home devices that create the same effect. First marketed in the 1960s as air purifiers, they gained popularity as an antidote to the health risks of air pollution.
Air ionizers can also treat depression. If that sounds hard to believe, you’re not alone. Researchers were originally so skeptical of air ionizers that they were first used as a placebo in studies of depression. To their surprise, the placebo air ionizers actually worked. Five clinical trials confirmed those observations (Perez et al., 2013).
Air ionizers are particularly good at treating winter depression. The dry, winter air is depleted of oxygen ions, as is indoor air. Heating and air conditioner units and dehumidifiers remove these antidepressant ions form the air.
Although we know that air ionizers treat depression, no one is sure how they do it. Ionized air reduces pollutants linked to depression and cognitive impairment. It improves blood circulation, reduces allergies and inflammation, and regulates serotonin and stress hormones.
Purchasing a Device
A good air ionizer needs to produce enough negative ions to treat depression. It also needs to minimize ozone, which is a dangerous byproduct of some devices. A research team at Columbia University tests available devices, and their recommendations are available at www.cet.org (type “air ionizer” in the search box). Currently, they recommend the Wein VI-2500 High-Density Ionic Air Purifier.
How to Use the Ionizer
In the original studies, people sat next to the ionizer for 30 minutes in the morning. However, an easier method is to use it while asleep. A wall timer can turn it on at night and off in morning. Close the doors and windows so the ions build up in the room.
Place the ionizer on a sturdy surface (two to three feet from their head) and aim it so the ions flow toward you. To maximize the flow of negative ions, it should sit at least two feet from a wall and at least three feet off the floor, as walls pull the negative ions away.
A Few Warnings
Air ionizers are safe, as long as they are free of ozone. They may damage nearby electronics.
Keep the ionizer as far away from electronic devices as possible, even if they are turned off. That includes computers, smartphones, clocks, radio, lights, TVs, and CPAP machines. At least six feet is a good distance. Electronic devices pull the ions away from the human body, even if the device is in our hands. LED screens can also be damaged if they are too close to an ionizer for too long.
It is normal for static electricity to build up while the device is running. To prevent shocks, avoid touching the ionizer directly unless it’s off. Turn it off by unplugging it, or by pressing the off button with a non-metal object, to further avoid shocks.
With regular use, an ionizer may darken nearby walls, coating anything within three to six feet with a gray smudge as it removes pollutants from the air. This usually wipes off.
Related
Learn how HEPA air purifiers can improve cognition.
—Chris Aiken, MD
Director, Psych Partners
Editor in Chief, Carlat Psychiatry Report
